Josie and the Pussycats — Retrospective Review

Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan's Josie and the Pussycats received negative reviews and was deemed a commercial failure upon its release 25 years ago. Over time, however, it garnered a cult following—and rightfully so. I still remember seeing the film for the first time in 2001. I rented it from Blockbuster and absolutely adored it. The music was catchy, and my elementary school mind was blown by the idea of subliminal messages hidden in pop songs. For years, I referenced the movie in conversations, only to be met with responses like "Never seen it" or "Never heard of it." More than two decades later, Josie and the Pussycats remains a film I have never forgotten. I never stopped listening to the soundtrack, especially "3 Small Words" and "Pretend to Be Nice," performed by Letters to Cleo. I never stopped referencing the film, despite how few people seemed familiar with it. And I never stopped loving it.